The Queen of Versailles (2012)

A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the next two years, their empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.

Director:

Lauren Greenfield

Stars:

Jaqueline Siegel, David Siegel, Alyse Barker

8 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alyse Barker	...	Herself - Miss New York 2009 (as Alyse Zwick)
Lorraine Barrett	...	Herself - Real Estate Agent
June Downs	...	Herself - Next Door Neighbor
Phillip Froehlich	...	Himself - Vice President, West Resorts
Marissa Gaspay	...	Herself - Nanny
Jonquil	...	Herself - Niece
Tina Martinez	...	Herself - High School Friend
Virginia Nebab	...	Herself - Nanny
Wendy Ponce	...	Herself - Housekeeper
David Siegel	...	Himself
Jaqueline Siegel	...	Herself (as Jackie Siegel)
Richard Siegel	...	Himself - Son
Victoria Siegel	...	Herself - Daughter
Katie Stam	...	Herself - Miss America
Terry Vaughn	...	Himself - Westgate Employee

Storyline

In 2008, the Siegel family was top of the heap with the wealthy and politically influential David Siegel running the successful Westgate Resorts time-share business. To enjoy their good life, he and his engineer turned beauty queen trophy wife, Jackie, were building the largest single family private home in America. Suddenly, both the US economy and Westgate were rocked by the devastating sub-prime mortgage collapse. In the new economic reality with the business teetering on ruin, we follow the Siegels as they struggle to scale down their grotesquely ostentatious lifestyle. For this overprivileged family, accepting that situation proved a dispiriting struggle even as their unfinished dream home became a monument of their superficial values.

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Plot Keywords:

beauty queen | trophy wife | u.s. economy | home | economy | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Netherlands UK Denmark

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 2014 (Japan)

Also Known As:

A Rainha de Versalhes

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$51,326, 22 July 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,401,652, 18 November 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evergreen Pictures, BBC Storyville, Impact Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Before the film premiered, David Siegel launched a civil action about how the film's marketing was misrepresented to him. The suit was tossed out of court and Siegel was ordered to pay the filmmakers $750,000 in legal fees.

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Quotes

Lauren Greenfield: How are you personally responsible for the re-election of George Bush?
David Siegel: I'd rather not say because it may not necessarily have been legal.

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Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #8.62 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
(uncredited)
Written by Johnny Marks
Performed by Marissa Gaspay

User Reviews

Good documentary about despicable peep

You have to laff when the "Queen"--often seemingly desperate to kiss her AH husband into some sort of affectionate submission (she always fails to receive anything other than an aggressively polite peck, which seems more like a 'kiss-off')-- the "Queen" plays the victim card, due to the financial upheaval in 2008. She's truly sickening, despite her "humble" roots. Were these pigs ever in real jeopardy? Well, their "conspicuous consumption, had to be "downsized" from poisonous excess to sheer madness, and meanwhile, the wonderful housekeeper has suffered and struggled to meet her own dreams--and you get the feeling she's cast her lot in with the wrong people. Fascinating and disgusting, see it.